Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidashe’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘Sidashe’ is disclosed, characterized by pink flowers with dark pink margins and a creamy white center. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , and naturally blooms from April through September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘Sidashe’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The intentof this breeding program is to produce stronger pot plant varieties withattractive flower colors. The new variety was discovered as a seedlingwithin the planned breeding program. This seedling is a result from thecrossing of the female parent, an undistributed proprietary varietyreferred to as 9773 with the male parent, an undistributed proprietaryvariety referred to as 9742. The crossing was made by the inventor,Daniel van der Spek in the summer of 1999. ‘Sidashe’ was selected byDaniel van der Spek in May of 2001 in Nootdorp, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ by vegetativecuttings was performed in Nootdorp, the Netherlands and has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype through 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sidashe’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sidashe’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sidashe’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Flattened inflorescence;    -   2. Unique petal coloration of pink with dark pink margins and a        creamy white center;    -   3. Dark green foliage;    -   4. Strong plant, resisting breaking in production and        post-harvest situations.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ are similar to plants of the femaleparent, ‘9773’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ differ from ‘9773’ in the followingcharacteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage color of ‘Sidashe’ is green whereas ‘9773’ is green        with purple margins.    -   2. ‘Sidashe’ has more flowers per inflorescence.    -   3. ‘Sidashe’ has a wider inflorescence.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ are similar to plants of the maleparent, ‘9742’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ differ from ‘9742’ in the followingcharacteristics;

-   -   1. Flower color of ‘Sidashe’ is pink with dark pink margins and        a creamy white center whereas ‘9742’ has solid pink flowers.    -   2. ‘Sidashe’ is a taller plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety ‘Paris Rapa,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,906. However,plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashe’ differ from ‘Paris Rapa’ in thefollowing characteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Sidashe’ is much more resistant to stress than        ‘Paris Rapa’.    -   2. ‘Sidashe’ has a wider inflorescence than ‘Paris Rapa’.    -   3. ‘Sidashe’ flowers are darker red.    -   4. ‘Sidashe’ plants are taller than ‘Paris Rapa’.    -   5. ‘Sidashe’ plants produce roots faster than ‘Paris Rapa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical blooming plant of ‘Sidashe’ grown in a greenhouse. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Sidashe’ plants grown in a greenhouse inBrielle, The Netherlands from October 2005 to October 2006. The growingtemperature ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. at night to 18° C. to 20° C.during the day. The pH of the growing medium was between 5.0 and 5.5.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalflowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar ‘Sidashe’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to Rooting: 19 to 21 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root Description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth Habit: Flowering perennial shrub.-   Height: Approximately 44 cm from soil level to the top of the    inflorescence.-   Blooming period: Naturally blooming April through September.-   Plant Spread: Approximately 56.5 cm.-   Growth Rate: Moderate to vigorous.-   Branching Characteristics: Moderately free branching.-   Length of Lateral Branches: Approximately 32.1 cm.-   Number of Lateral Branches: Approximately 12.-   Diameter of Lateral Branches: Approximately 0.6 cm.-   Pinching Required: Yes.    -   -   Details of pinching.—The first pinch is given at 8 weeks            from the planting of a rooted cutting. A second pinch is            given 12 weeks from planting a rooted cutting.-   Lateral Branch Shape: Round.-   Lateral Branch Strength: Very strong.-   Lateral Branch Texture: Leathery.-   Lateral Branch Color: Approximately RHS Yellow-Green 144A, slightly    tinged at the nodes with RHS Greyed-Purple 183D.-   Other Stem or Plant Characteristics: Stems covered with lenticels at    a density of approximately 5 lenticels per square cm.    -   -   Lenticel length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Lenticel width.—Approximately 0.075 cm.        -   Lenticel color.—About RHS Greyed-Purple 183D.-   Number of Leaves per Lateral Branch: Average 8.-   Age of Plant Described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound and or single.—Single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 12.3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 7.1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Broad oval to broad elliptic oblong.        -   Apex.—Apiculate        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate, approximately 3 teeth per cm.        -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, non-pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 6.3 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side. Near R.H.S. Green 146B.            Young foliage under side. Near R.H.S. Green 138B. Mature            foliage upper side. Near R.H.S. Green 139B. Mature foliage            under side. Near R.H.S. Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near            R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Near            R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—High.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom Period:    -   -   Natural season.—Continuous April through September.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal.        -   Type.—Flattened compound corymb.        -   Height.—Approximately 8.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 17.0 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers,            approximately 17. Sterile Flowers, approximately 230.-   Bud:    -   -   Bud shape (sterile flowers).—Obovate.        -   Bud length (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Bud diameter (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Bud color (sterile flowers).—Near R.H.S. Red 54C, top            darker, Red 54B. Base/calyx: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Bud shape (fertile flowers).—Globose.        -   Bud length (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Bud diameter (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Bud color (fertile flowers).—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A with            top of bud near RHS Red-Purple 63B. Fertile flowers do not            open.-   Flower:    -   -   Characteristics.—Only sterile flowers fully open, fertile            flowers shrivel and do not open.        -   Shape.—Rotate.        -   Facing direction.—All directions, with the majority facing            outward.        -   Quantity flowers per lateral stem.—Approximately 250.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 2000.        -   Diameter of entire flower.—Fertile; Approximately 1.2 cm.            Sterile: Approximately 4.1 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Fertile; Approximately 0.7 cm. Sterile:            Approximately 2.2 cm.        -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open            approximately 5 days from the bud stage. Whole Plant:            Approximately 50% of flowers open at once.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—Fertile flowers: Approximately 5            days. Sterile flowers: Approximately 35 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.        -   Fragrance.—No.-   Petals:    -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 4.8 cm.        -   Width of petal.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Petal number.—Average 5.        -   Petals fused.—No.        -   Petal appearance.—Dull.        -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.-   Color:    -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 58D, top            margin near Red-Purple 58B,        -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 58C, top margin            near Red-Purple 58B, base near 58D.        -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58B.        -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 58D, top            margin near Red-Purple 58B, base near Red-Purple 58D.        -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 58C, top margin            near Red-Purple 58B, base near 58D.        -   Under surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58B.-   Petaloids: No.-   Fragrance: None.

CALYX

-   Present: Yes.-   Shape: Rotate, lower ¾ fused.-   Length: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Diameter: Approximately 1.35 cm.

SEPAL

-   Sepals: Only sterile flowers have sepals. Fertile flowers shrivel    and do not open.-   Number: Average 5.-   Sepal Texture (both surfaces): Smooth.-   Sepal Arrangement: Rotate.-   Sepal length: Approximately 0.4 cm.-   Sepal width: Approximately 0.1 cm.-   Sepal shape: Deltoid.-   Base: Fused into a tube ⅔ of length.-   Apex shape: Acute.-   Margin: Entire.-   Color: Upper side near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C. Under side near    R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C, base Yellow-Green 144D.

PEDUNCLE

-   Length: Approximately 4.2 cm.-   Diameter: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Angle: Approximately 30 degrees (0 degrees=straight upright).-   Strength: Strong.-   Color: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144B.

PEDICEL

-   Present: Yes.-   Length (sterile flowers): Approximately 0.9 cm.-   Diameter (sterile flowers): Approximately 0.1 cm.-   Angle (sterile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees.-   Strength (sterile flowers): Strong.-   Color (sterile flowers): Near White 155A, base Greyed-Purple 187D.-   Length (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.7 cm.-   Diameter (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Angle (fertile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees.-   Strength (fertile flowers): Moderate.-   Color (fertile flowers): Near Yellow-Green 145C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of pistil per flower: 3.        -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Lobed.        -   Stigma color.—Near Red-Purple 57D.        -   Style colors.—Near Red-Purple 62D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Ovary color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.        -   Stamens.—Average 10.        -   Anther shape.—Broad kidney-shaped.        -   Anther size.—0.15 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near White 155A, filament colored Red-Purple            62C.        -   Pollen color.—Near White 155A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Very low.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease Resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought Tolerance and Cold Tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant    of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has    not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at    least up to 40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,    however, observed hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been    observed.-   Fruit/Seed Production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidashe’ asherein illustrated and described.